Synthetic fibres in occupied europe?

[Two Types]

Someone has posted a Russian cap made in 1983 on the 'Cap Faction' thread: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?23684-The-Cap-Faction/page490

It might be worth having a look at the materials used in that cap to compare to your one.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

That one looks to have pleather rather than oilskin sweatband. Hard to tell though.

Are they those small sized, deadstock Russian caps that were selling on Etsy?

Yes, those are they.

 

[nightandthecity]

I'm pretty much of the same mind Baron, after due reflection I think the odds are strong its East European. I think what finally swings me in that direction is the actual style of the cap - I associate these caps with the stiffened band/stand with central and eastern Europe rather than France.

AS for date, the burn test shows.....
top: mostly wool with synthetic "stiffening"
lining: nylon
thread: three types, all cotton

In the UK that configuration would strongly suggest 1950s/60s, but I'm not sure the same rules apply in the Soviet bloc - though that label seems pretty retro for much later than that.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I don't know why, but the label makes me think of the kind of clothing that would be assigned in 1984. A very grand name for something quite shoddy and utilitarian. The combined shock, hate, and fear on the chap's face are all very correct for the Soviet bloc, too.

It's a real stupid question, but I assume there are no markings on the underside of the sweatband.

 

[nightandthecity]

first place I looked Baron! Nowt there.

 

[Sprinkles]

That sweatband material certainly screams Warsaw Pact. I know East German military caps in the 80s had sweatband material similar to that. I posted that 1983 soviet cap in the cap forum, and yes the sweatband material in mine is different than this one, but both of these types were used in Soviet, East German, etc. headwear that I have encountered.